He caught the hand, he gathered its owner into a pair of strong arms, and bending over her, he kissed her.

Daphne, suffocated with anger and emotion, broke from him--tottering.

Then sinking on the ground beneath a tree, she burst into sobbing.

Roger, scarlet, with sparkling eyes, dropped on one knee beside her.
[Illustration: "He caught the hand, he gathered its owner into a pair of strong arms, and bending over her, he kissed her"] "Daphne, I'm a ruffian! forgive me! you must, Daphne! Look here, I want you to marry me.

I've nothing to offer you, of course; I'm a poor man, and you've all this horrible money! But I--I love you!--and I'll make you a good husband, Daphne, that I'll swear.